Not given aid, Bathinda college girls shell out money for giddha performance

Where must a college or an educational institute spend its grants? While, an element of discretion is always there and deserves to be honoured, students at the local Shri Sanatam Dharam Girls College have claimed that in spite of the college having received Rs 20,000 as grant, they were forced to spend out of their own pockets on the arrangements for a giddha function held at the premises, on Tuesday.

Where must a college or an educational institute spend its grants? While, an element of discretion is always there and deserves to be honoured, students at the local Shri Sanatam Dharam Girls College have claimed that in spite of the college having received Rs 20,000 as grant, they were forced to spend out of their own pockets on the arrangements for a giddha function held at the premises, on Tuesday.

The function was organised as part of celebrations to mark the 151st birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Participating girls claimed that they borrowed the giddha costume at Rs 300 per head and the team also spent more than Rs 500 on the other requirements for the function.

Shivpreet Kaur, a participant, said, "We have never been given any money or financial help for participation in giddha. I am a regular participant and have got a dress stitched as the institute organises such functions regularly. This is all done with students shelling out money."

When queried, in-charge for NSS and Youth Club Usha, said, "Students participate enthusiastically in these activities and giddha is a popular event. The funds we get are not utilised on a single activity, but only on the annual function.

Youth services Bathinda assistant director Kamaljit Singh Sidhu, under whose leadership, the activity was performed in the college, said: "We give colleges a grant of Rs 20,000 annually. They have to match the contribution and spend it on students in five cultural activities. The colleges have the discretion on when and where to spend the grants."